Dr. Lewis explains why it is so important for an HIV positive woman to focus on her general health.

Dr. Lewis:
Women who pay attention to their general health have much better outcomes with their HIV. For HIV-positive women that address their emotional health, their spiritual health, their social health, along with their physical health, their outcomes with HIV are dramatically better. Specifically women who focus on healthy habits such as reducing their alcohol intake, smoking cessation, improving their sleep and their nutrition, watching what they eat, making sure that they get adequate exercise dramatically improve their health with HIV.

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For example, women oftentimes come to the Southwest Center for HIV/AIDS with depression. Research indicates that there are higher incidences of depression and HIV. For those women who meet with licensed behavioral health counselors and address their goals for their life, they are given an opportunity to move forward with somebody who is experienced and can help them to improve their overall quality of life.

About Dr. Jennifer Lewis, Ph.D.:
Jennifer Lewis the Director of Prevention and Wellness at the Southwest Center for HIV/ AIDS. She oversees HIV prevention for women, men and youth, and wellness which includes medical nutrition, behavioral health and complementary and alternative medicine. She is also the owner of Mosaic Psychotherapy, LLC, a psychotherapy practice that provides consulting and counseling services to individuals and families.